KnittyOtter

Entrelac Scarf & The Time Warp

I finished my Entrelac Scarf last month or so. Due to the time warp I keep finding myself in who knows. It may have been December. o.0

Anyhoo I finally finished it. The holdup on this project was caused by bad yarn management. I had 4 balls of the Trendsetter Tonalita #2349. Somehow one of my balls got away from me. Heh.

When I was cleaning up the yarn cabinet last month or so I found it so I could finally finish my scarf. Wheeeee!! I really liked knitting this up. I sure hope so considering I went so far as to make a Tutorial for it. ;^)

I've worn it several times and like it very much, although the colors don't so much match anything. It's very dreamcoaty that way. Which is fine because unless it's a Cookie Creation I rarely wear matching knits... because I've yet to get around to knitting a matching item.

I do like this scarf lots though. George looks Faboo in it as well. :D Clickty Biggety!

The actual knitting time wasn't much for this project. My inability to stay monogamous to a single project and bad yarn management is the real time suck here.

I think I want another one of these in more sedate colors. I really liked the way the greys flow in the scarf Cookie made a while back. Not sure about Grey... a few weeks ago or so this asshat of a woman told me, as I was wearing my just finished and proudly completed Duckie Hat, "I Hate to tell you this, but grey isn't your color". If I'd had any sense I'd have asked her why she felt the need to give out her unasked for opinion if she hated doing it so much. Feh. I very adultly ignored her... I think. I may have beaten her to death and blocked it out of my memory. You never know these days. I blinked and we went from the 4th to the 13th. o.0

This time warp shit has got to stop. I know life is happening in the blackout areas. I have knitting proof that I was awake during the missing time. But damn, how the fuck is it the middle of February already.

Last month Florrie mentioned a Leftover Sock Yarn Knit Along she was going to start on February 14th. It's here tomorrow and I still need to get my yarn leftovers together. There is also a contest with the Knit Along. It's a Crazy Socks Contest! :D If you like the idea of using your sock yarn leftovers to knit up a fun pair of socks and the possibility of winning some super nifty knitting swag why don'tcha give it a check out and knit yourself some Crazy Ass Socks. :D

I think I'm going to try to finish the socks I'm knitting on now before I start my Crazy Leftover Socks. I just started the feet on both socks yesterday when TKK and I were sitting outside enjoying the warm weather and sunshine. I was even wearing Shorts and a Tank Top. Today it's raining and it might snow later. That's okay too. ;^)

Happy Happy and the Scarf from 2007

I am Happy.

Happy Happy. *GRIN*

This weekend was absolutely fantastic. FANTASTIC. Actually the last several months or so (like the last 6 months) with the honey have been super fantastic. Sometimes you just have to let go of control and just enjoy life. Prior to that I had some doubts about some things and whatnot and that confusion and whatnot made things a bit tense off and on. Looking back it was just me making waves and being silly over shit that really makes no damn sense at all. The two of us not being around people or a situation that pissed us both off has been HUGE. Funny how taking out the thing that caused the arguments and disruptions can lead to greater happiness.

NTS: Never ask the honey go someplace he doesn't want to be, do things he doesn't care for or be around people he can't stand. The same goes for me. Don't do shit for other people because you feel guilty or whatever BS reason they try to push on you.

If I had to cover any of the resolutions from last year over again. It would be the ones about avoiding stupid people. Last year I kinda sucked at that. I got better. But still I didn't say no as often as I should have.

So this year, not so much a resolution, but a declaration I will SAY NO TO STUPID PEOPLE.

That and I need to stay in contact more often with those people who matter a great deal to me. I have been super sucky about that in the last several months or so.

Feeling like life is swallowing me whole is no excuse to not be there for the people who give that life meaning.

Now it's not just the glow of a lovely weekend with the honey making me feel/say these things. Just something I've had on my mind for a while. That and the relief and gratefulness for not being a complete ass earlier this year when I was contemplating my future choices.

So anyway I feel like I have back some of that whack I thought I'd lost. I fear I'm still somewhat out of whack and later this month I'll have my whack all out of sorts again, but it will hopefully be a temporary out-of-whackedness. Heh.

Speaking of Resolutions, Resolution #10 is the only one I'm renewing. Otherwise I'll just fly by the seat of my pants and do the things I need to do to be a happy person.

I knit a Fabulous Baby Alpaca Scarf for myself back in early December. It might have been November. Who can tell at this point, that was ages ago! o.0

The yarn is Baby Chunky Alpaca from Misti Alpaca. It was fun and fast to knit up. SO SOFT. A joy to work with... but after wearing it just a few times I'm not so sure about it. This is the most pilly yarn I've ever seen. It sheds like a bitch too. :/ Still soft as hell, but damn if I wanted to have fur bits all over my clothes I'd hug the cat after getting dressed. There is also some Claudia Handpainted held with it in there. Chocolate Cherry sock yarn. It adds a bit of color and makes it kinda tweedy. I just did a simple 3x3 rib for the pattern.

The other knits of 2007 will have to fall into 2008 since I still need to photograph them. One of them will have to wait until it's owner gets it and takes it's picture. Here's hoping I get my ass over to the post office soon! Though I still don't trust them. Bastards.

Anyway after having a great weekend I'm prepared to have a great week. Wheeeeeee!!!!

Break on through to the other side...

Things have been crazy busy. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Lots and LOTS have been going on. Mostly good. Some confuzleing. Some sad. And some things happened so fast my head hasn't stopped spinning yet. I could try to pick through the mess of a maze that is my brain to try to explain it here. Or I could hit the highlights and not worry about getting it just so, just right in the explaining.

Here we go.

My computer, Lightening hasn't been feeling so well lately. Lightening is a Dell. Purchased several years ago. He's not totally dead yet. I think he'll be okay for a while yet. Though we did kinda sorta run out of space. First I picked up an external harddrive and moved over all my pictures and music. I may have moved the knitting patterns over as well.

*pause*

The above text was written on November 26. o.0

Needles to say things go even crazier busy and here we are on December 26.

*starting again*

Hi New Readers, Last time on the blog I posted about Walnuts and Gold...

<.<

>.>

*waves at everybody from the Winter Knitty*

Star Athena posted a pattern called Quant, an enterlac headband. She used my Entrelac Tutorial to help her learn enterlac and then went on to create that gorgeous little number. I thinks I need to make myself a Quant. *GRIN*

That's pretty awesome. I've gotten some really lovely feedback from people who used my tutorial to learn this. I know I have been super sucky at not returning emails (of any sort) lately so thank you to those who emailed me. (and I'm sorry I sucky at the email returning)

So in the last two months I've done lots of stuffs.

Briefly I shall list the happenings:

Got a new Laptop: MacBook Pro - LOVES IT MUCHLY - though I am still mainly using my good 'ol Lightening... because I haven't set up my printer to the new computer yet. Haven't even named it yet. o.0 Any ideas?

And yes I already feel vastly superior to all you Windows Freaks. :P

(Just kidding about that last bit)

Finished breaking my cell phone the rest of the way. I guess there is a limit on how many times you can drop the damn things before the crack open. Considering I had that phone since 2003 it wasn't a bad run.

The post office has lost a box that I mailed earlier this month. The box contained two knit items. A Chunky Baby Alpaca Scarf and a Two Color Fair Isle Hat. LOST FOREVER. :(

That kinda crushed my Christmas spirit. Among many other things. Feh.

If a knit blogger knits something and doesn't take a picture of it to post, did it really happen? o.0

There were other gifts lost in that box as well. But those two things really burn my butt.

I was out of town for 11 days. It was the best of times and the worst of time. Literally.

I got to spend a week with Rendogg, BUT I also had to see people who suck and deal with some really shitty stuff.

Which leads me to this next part. I hate most people. Seriously. Especially the ones who are the crazy bad xtians and god freaks. Stupid  People Suck. 

I actually had one asshole tell me that Christianity is the ONE TRUE religion because Xtians are the most persecuted of all the religions. o.0 WTF?!

I had another tell me what a horrible person I am for living in sin.

The shitty thing is even if I did get married they'd just tell me how awful I am for not procreating. And if I had kids they'd find some other way to tell me I'm not good enough so fuck them all.

Feh. SIck of stupid bad Christians. I know it's not all of them because I know some pretty decent people, who just happen to be Xtain also. So I know being a good person can be done despite that flaw. (ha ha, it's just a joke, no panty bunching please)

I'm just sick of people telling everyone else how to live when they don't have a fucking clue how to do it themselves in the first place.

A bunch of other stuff happened to, but that was a lifetime ago and maybe even a different person ago. Time and Experience have a funny way of changing who we are from moment to moment. Now I just have to figure out who I am today and go from there.

Oh yeah there were Holidays. They came and went. Thanksgiving was fine.

We are still in the middle of the Winter Holiday. I spent the last few days with my Honey and Kitty.

Winter Holiday is what happens from December 21 through January 1. It's whatever you want it to be.  I'm sick of being told what to do during this time so I will just call it  My Winter Holiday and leave it at that.

The 24th and 25th the honey and I opened some presents to celebrate the lengthening days. It's really more a celebration of being home together away from all the stupid people.

One of the cutest things to happen this Holiday Season took place Monday night after I set all the presents out around George. It all started when TKK was very interested in the presents and was rubbing all over them. Eventually she found one she liked the bestest and started opening. Thankfully the honey and I were in the room and witnessed the whole thing. *GRIN* (and I suspected the giftie was hers anyway :P)

She opened this pretty little sparkley purple box. She was a kitty on a mission. A very happy mission. She told the box how much she loved it by rubbing her cute wittle faceykins all over it until she finally got it open. Inside was a purple wooly mousey filled with CatNip from her sweet Auntie Cookie. Watching how happy she was brightened my mood up right quick.

I caught TKK snuggling with Mousy when she didn't know I had the camera out.

Here's a shot of TKK more composed with Mousy and George watching over her and the gifties.

Thank you, Cookie. She WUVS her new wittle friend and carries it around in her mouth. :D (Though she said she wasn't pinning any shawls out for you. Something about opposable thumbs. *eyeroll* They always have excuses for not helping with blocking. Good Luck with Clive Owen on that one. Maybe he can Block it for you Nekkid... if so can I come over? *grin*)

After that things picked up and I was in a MUCH better mood. That and knowing how lucky I am to have the people I love the most love me back.

So here we are today. I'm sorry for not posting for so long. That sucked ass, btw. If I'd known I would be gone for long I'd have said something. But I kept thinking any day now... time just got out of hand. Funny how that happens sometimes.

Blink and you'll miss it.

Monkey Muffins and George in a Charity Hat

I can't believe I  haven't posted recently. It's been pretty busy over here since... oh a while now. But I truly thought I'd have more time to post than I have. Granted this weekend I wasn't posting due to a yarn crawl with MonkeySocks. Yarn was had. *GRIN* But that's not what I'm here to talk to you about today. Hell I said I'd post about my travels in my next post, which would be this one and that's not going to happen either.

The intentions I have, the promises I make, my failings are all heavy hearted within myself. It kinda stops me, keeps me silent, when I can't follow through on the things I wish to do. So if you haven't been getting your emails returned as timely and whatnot it's because I am feeling silent within myself. This too shall pass and until it does it's nothing personal. Though I do feel like a right crappy friend. I recently had a friend thank me for being a good friend. I feel bad though, cause I certainly have not earned that.

I have a lot of black cloud musings I could bore you with but I'm here to talk to you about Monkey Muffins.

A few weeks ago my friend Monkey Socks made some Pineapple Upside Down Muffins. They were VERY Yummy. The sorta thing you wish you had more of. With an added bonus of being something not entirely awful for you. There's enough personal guilt inside me to deal with without adding muffin guilt to it to ya know. Heh.

This past Thursday I got it suddenly and without warning into my head to make this fabulous muffins. All I new about her yummy baked creation was that it had pineapple, a cup of grated carrot, raisins and nuts... and flour and those basic baking things cause it is a muffin afterall.

Taking that knowledge mixed with a basic carrot muffin recipe, my pineapple upside down cake recipe and my own twisted ideas about what a might go into a tasty muffin created what I like to call Monkey Muffins. Not only as a homage to the one and only Monkey Socks, but because they have Banana and other yummy things in there that any lucky monkey would be happy to nosh on.

So without further adieu here are the Monkey Muffins.    (All Photos Clickety Biggety)

Just ignore the fact there are only 10 muffins shown in the photo. They were so yummy I forgot to take a picture until they had been sampled. :P And yes these are Honey Approved Monkey Muffins.

Monkey Muffin Recipe:

Preheat Oven to 400°F

Monkey Muffin Pineapple & Pecan Topping

1/4 Cup Pack Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Chopped Pecans
10 oz Pineapple Slices - drained and cut into sixths (Use one 20 oz can, just set the other half aside for the next part)
1/4 Butter - melted

Place a teaspoon of Butter in each muffin cup of your Muffin/cupcake pan. Then sprinkle in equally the nuts & Brown sugar. Finally place 2 to 3 segments of pineapple into each cup, so that it comes out about equal depending on the size of your pieces. I didn't cut that uniformly, so smaller pieces got 3 to a cup. It should look like the image below when you are done.

Monkey Muffins

1 Cup King Arthur Wheat Flour
1 Cup King Arthur All Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda - For the photo below I put the Baking Powder & Soda together in the same dish to save room... ran out of little bowls. :P
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt - regular "salt" grind, not the big flakey stuff

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking powder & baking soda & salt together in a bowl.

In a different & larger bowl mix together the following ingredients.

2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Safflower Oil or regular Vegetable Oil
2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
10 oz Pineapple Slices - drained and chopped into small pieces
1 Cup Finely Grated Carrot - Do not use Baby Carrots for this as it takes so much longer than normal carrots. If you can find normal old fashioned sized carrots that is. I did not, so I used the Babies. Took ages.
3/4 Cup Rough Chopped Banana
3/4 Cup Trader Joe's Golden Berry Blend Dried Fruit - Blend of Golden Raisins, Cherries, Cranberries & Blueberries
4 Tablespoons Ground Flaxseed - I use Nature's Path Flaxseed Meal
2 Tablespoons Chopped Pecans

Once you have gently mixed together the second bowl of ingredients you can start adding the first bowl of dry ingredients into this bowl. (Which is why it will need to be larger.)

After the ingredients are gently folded together evenly spoon the muffin mixture into the prepared muffin pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 Minutes or until Golden Brown and you can cleanly insert a butter knife. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the muffins from the pan before turning them over onto a cookie sheet.

These Monkey Muffins were Super Yummy and will be made again soon. I was going to mail some out, but the Honey really liked them and before I could wrap some up to freeze for travel he devoured them. :D Which is fine cause I like it when he enjoys the stuff I make. I'll just have to make more. Maybe a double batch next time. ;^)

In other news I have been knitting. I have several finished projects I need to photograph and post. For now here is a Hat I made for the Charity Box at my Favorite Local Yarn Store, Deluxe Yarns. Later this month we are going to get together and hand things out to people who need them at a shelter. :D Should be very interesting seeing people get my Charity Knitting in person.  I need to get on it and knit a bunch more for the box. :D

George and The Local Charity Hat

George always looks so enthusiastic about whatever he happens to be modeling. He even wore this hat to a Halloween Party we attended last week. Yes, I took him as my guest. :P

What you don't take your Zombie for Outings? Weirdos.

;^)

Red Scarf Project, George and TKK Oh My!

I finished my Scarf for this years Red Scarf Project. Well this Autumn's Red Scarf Project as it's not really 2008 yet. Either way it's fantabulous and benefits the Orphan Foundation of America. :D

Just think some College kid will receive my handknit scarf as modeled by the lovely George here. George is as high fashion as it gets, Baby! Clickety Biggety!

George was petting TKK when I took this photo. (Yes, the scarf was washed after it touched the kitty.) TKK said she wanted to be in the photo, but you know how models and their egos can be. So we had to take another photo of her without George or the scarf to show off just how vivacious and fuzzy she is. Truly the cutest kitty ever.

She knows how to work the camera. That and she was trying to lick it. :P

Some details on the scarf:

Cast On: August 17, 2007
Cast Off: September 21, 2007
Pattern: My Own "Not a Real Pattern Pattern" - Simple Alternating sections of Garter, Seed & Basket Weave
Yarn: Universal Yarn from the Moods line color 1505 - It's a Worsted Weight Wool/Acrylic blend that has colors that blend between Red and Black. - I had two balls of the yarn when I started and I still have 3/4 of one of them. I'll use that to make Hats for the Charity Box at Deluxe Yarns for the local homeless & needy.
Yardage: 247 yards
Yarn Source: Deluxe Yarns
Needles: Clover Takumi -  US 10.5 / 6.5mm 16" Circular
Again? YES! It was a fun easy knit and the honey liked it so he'll likely get one in the Blue and Black Colorway. :D Nothing like some mindless knitting to make you all nice and relaxed when things are kinda stressy.

Notes: This was my first Completed Scarf using Garter Stitch as more than a border. *L* The scarf is 6 feet long and 5.5 inches wide. This scarf was started with some friends when I was too brain dead to knit on the socks I had with me at the time. It's been knit on in four states and through several drinks and travels. Heh.

Random Observation: It just occurred to me that George kinda looks like Jerri Blank's Father, Guy.

George on the left, Guy on the right

Twins Separated at Birth! o.0

I'm glad I finished the scarf in time. Now I just need to get a gift certificate, write a note and care instructions and mail it off.

In other news I finished another pair of socks... *happy dance*

Eye Candy Friday: In the Garden & Ten for Dulaan

This year the honey and I are trying to start a garden. Again. I think y'all remember the sun fried pumpkin patch of last year. o.0

In all honesty the honey is doing most of the work. He asks me what I want and then surprises me with stuff he'll think I like and a few times a week take me on a "tour" of our garden. Sometimes I have helpful advice and sometimes I just ooo and ah over how cool it is. When I was out of town he planted some mini old fashioned roses in my favorite pinky coral color. Such a thoughtful sweetiehead! :D I don't have a picture of that to show you just yet.

What I do have is a photo of Pumpkin Patch 2007. (Clickety Biggety: All Photos in this post)

The sun is taking it's toll on a few of the leaves already. I'm thinking we'll have to put some kind of sun shade over the poor things. It almost feels like one of those storm watch things when the news/weather people get so excited they almost wet themselves. *L* Maybe we'll have Pumpkins this year and maybe we won't. Stay Tuned to find out!

Those are just some of the pumpkins. They are sharing the planter box that self waters with some green/yellow pepper thingies. You can eat them when they are green, or wait until they are yellow and a bit sweeter. The honey picked those out for me, even though he's not a huge fan of pepper thingies. That's love. ♥

While I was out there yesterday enjoying the afternoon breezes with the honey in the garden/backyard I did a little knitting. Still working on the honey socks. But I'm already thinking of all the other socks I wanna knit SOON. That darn Cookie has been talking up Kew to me for a while now and yesterday seeing her progress kicked my sock fever into over drive. So I went ahead and picked out the yarn I'm going to use for those socks too. I love me a lacy sock and that one looks uber fun. :D

Dave Cabin Cove Mercantile Yarn in Tencel & Merino for Kew: So Soft, Glossy and Wonderful!!

I think a cool refreshing pair of green socks is just what this already hot summer needs... well to wear when it gets cooler. But still knitting them will be like a cool drink of water in the shade. :D

Now I just need to knit more and dream about future socks less. I blame Cookie. Just Say'n. :P

TKK wanted her own picture taken after I took the Dave Yarn away. She loves her some Dave yarn. I'd need some attention too if someone took away my Dave yarn. o.0

You can almost see in her eyes that she wants that yarn back. I'm not kidding when I say she loves Dave Yarn. *L*

And finally several weeks ago before I went out of town I sent off my Dulaan Box. (Many Thanks to Cookie for keeping me up on the deadline to mail. *hugs*)

I had pledged to knit 5 pieces and managed to knit 10. :D

*Super Happy Otter Dance*

Here's George showing off The Ten Pieces/Sets for Dulaan.

From the top, left to right we have The Patons SWS Fuzzy Kiddie Scarf, My First Sweater Ever, Toddler Scarf & Hat Set, The Double Knit Stripe Hat, My First Attempt at Fair Isle, Candy Hat, Mohair Monstrosity, My First Socks , My First Hat and the Magic 28 Socks.

That's a lot of firsts in there for me. :D I have REALLY enjoyed knitting all of these for Dulaan. It's also helped me try things sooner than I might have. I dunno. It's different when you're knitting for someone in need than for yourself or friends/family. It's pure. No strings, no history. Just helping.

That's not to say I don't have plenty of people I could knit for. Though recently someone who obviously doesn't know me very well suggested that I knit for charity because I don't have anyone to knit for. As if knitting for charity was the only way I could knit for others and that it must be nice to have people to knit for because of this. *L* Well I doubt that person will be getting a handknit anytime soon. Not a knitter, btw. Not a charity helper either. Just plain ol' clueless. I could spend all my time knitting for people I love and still not have time to get to them all the way I'd like. Like I said, knitting for charity makes me feel good. I guess you gotta be happy to spread happy though. Miserable people who can't see past the gloom on their nose wouldn't understand that.

I don't know if they are going to do Dulaan again this year or not. I hope so, but if not I'm sure I can find a lot of other charities to participate in. Such as the upcoming Red Scarf Project 2008. The deadline is a bit earlier this year and the standards & practices have changed a bit for anyone interested. Looks to be lots of fun again. :D

Alrighty then, well tomorrow I head off on an adventure with some friends. It should be fun and fiberlicious. Details if we make it and return. You never know about these things. *L* It feels kinda like we are going off on some hobbiting adventure with a precarious chance of making it back. If we make it back I'll have to pull a Bilbo and write the tale. But I promise not to have Leonard Nimoy sing about the adventure. I don't think they even make those kind of drugs anymore.

To top it all off, like some sort of fabulous cherry on a sundae I've been promised a pair of Prized Squishy Balls!!! My Precious, Precioussssss Squishy Balls.....

Margarita Chicken Soup & an Almost Sweater!

... *sneaks back in*

It always feels weird to make a blog post after an absence of posts. I don't know what to say, while at the same time having WAY too much to say.

Or it could be a symptom of life and all the stuff I'm dealing with right now. Some things you can talk about and some you can't.

Been busy, but before I get into all that I'd like to announce the name of my recent unnamed soup. The lovely and talented (and glowing and recently married, complete with three heart beats on her person right now!! OMG go check out her blog and her wedding photos AND news of the people inside her!!!) Rachel came up with the winning name. The others were very good also, but the soup didn't cure me a bit. (Still coughing, but MUCH better) It also wasn't as spicy as you'd think. It was more tangy than anything. So the name Rachel came up with fit the bill and is something I love.

The name you ask? Margarita Chicken Soup

In addition to the prize she will get that will be selected just for her amusement, I will also make a batch of it up for some upcoming and not too distant get together type thing. (If A is there I'll mix up a batch of the Margarita Vegetable Soup as well.) :D

It's soup AND it ties in with Resolution #10. Perfect! *L*

On the knitting front I am doing well. I am In LOVE with sweater knitting. *giddy laugh*

Oh knitting, my fibery true love, how you keep me enchanted. My passion for you never wans and even during stressful times I come back to you, like lovers parted but never unhearted. *makes sloppy wet kissy noises*

Hi, Still Weird! :P

So the sweater I'm making  for Dulaan is coming along well. I started it last Tuesday (5/8/07) and I'm certain I will finish well before the deadline. :D

Here's a progress shot with George trying it on.

I'm really enjoying the repetitive and simple knitting in the round on this. Plus it's worsted weight yarn on size 10.5 needles. (Larger needles, cause my gauge seems to be extra tight these days. Thanks stress love you too! *pokes stress in the eye* Bitch.)

It's funny how many half finished projects I have going right now. I barely have enough Know Knit, GoKnit Pouches from Scout to hold them all. *L* (Love them, highly recommend them!)

Now I could finish up some of my current projects as soon as this sweater is done... OR I could cast on for my own sweater.

We'll see. Maybe I'll finish this project and knock out two more. Then I could start another project relatively guilt free.

It will be interesting to see which projects are selected to be finished. I've got my own pile/island of misfit knits going on over here. *L*

Eye Candy Friday - Looks like we made it

I'm always so thrilled that I lived yet another week when Friday gets here. I mean wouldn't it be a shame if you lived through the work week only to find that you died on a Thursday night. What kind of reward is that.

I wanna die on a Sunday night. I don't care for Sunday nights. Never have. Even as a kid I thought it was the most depressing night of the week. If it wasn't for The Simpson's and Family Guy I'd probably strangle myself in anticipation of the work week. Well mainly the phone. I hate the sound of a ringing phone and to me that's what Sunday night is. It's the pause before a never ending ringing phone. Well it mostly ends Friday.

Friday is a yummy day. Well worth celebrating. So even though I'm listening to the happy upbeat song "You give what you give" by the New Radicals at the moment that old Barry Manilow song, "Looks like we made it" is stuck in my head. *winks at Dave* (He secretly loooooooooooves all my bad music references. Especially if it involves Keith Carradine, whom I adore. *L*) Heh. Now I have to listen to that....

Anyhoo, I think I'm letting my freak flag wave a bit more than I intended with that last bit of information. *L*

So it's Friday and it's gonna be a kickass cool fun couple of days. I have no clue what I'm doing yet, but the phone won't be going crazy so that means it's gonna rawk. *GRIN*

Earlier this morning I was having a conversation with George and he mentioned how he hasn't been around much lately. He said he's not feeling the love. Poor thing. (Psst, don'tcha just hate it when you're Zombie gets all pouty. Must be Zombie PMS...) So for my Eye Candy Friday photo here is George, feeling pretty.

George is wearing my Devil Princess Tiara along with my new Lantern Moon Lady Bug tape measure while holding the in progress honey socks. I'm ready to start the heal for the sock on the right. About an inch and a half to go get to that point on the sock on the left. Loving the Claudia Hand Painted muchly.

These socks also count as my Project Spectrum project for Blue for February and March. I think I have my April & May project picked out. One of the projects has green in it. I really do need more hands to knit all the stuff I want to knit up. *L*

Oh and in other knitting news I really do appreciate all the free spirited outgoing adventures knitters I see 'round these parts. It's the only way to live life. Viva La Adventure and Possibilities!!

Cabin Cove KAL & Red Scarf Finale!

Do you have some of Dave's Cabin Cove Mercantile Yarn stashed away?

Did you join one of those new fangled knit only from your stash KAL's, yet you can still buy sock yarn or yarn for another KAL?

Do you love beautifully hand painted yarn?

Have you ever wanted to join a KAL but want something low key, no pressure with no stressful deadlines?

If so we've got the Knit Along for you! :D

Cookie is hosting this ultra fantabulous Cabin Cove KAL over at Shut Up and Knit Your Cabin Cove.

So what are you waiting for? Shut up, and go knit your Cabin Cove yarn! *L*

I'm going to finish up my Pink Dream Hourglass Socks, start my Eunny Jang Anemoi Mittens and TRY to start some lace (I saw that Dave :P) in a color that is super flattering to my skin tone All with Dave's kick ass yarn! *happy otter dance*

In other news I finally finished off that dreaded Noro Scarf Saturday afternoon. I took Duckie Hat breaks in between so I would have the strength to go on. By the time I was to the end I was so antsy I cast off way too tight so I had to redo that part Sunday morning. I washed it yesterday and boy did that thing soften up. All kinds of weird stuff came out when I hand washed it, so I'm thinking maybe that yarn should be washed before it's knit with. o.0

It's really soft and lovely now. All that negative feelings I had when knitting it are gone now. I can even see why people like it. I may even knit with it again someday... maybe... we'll see. :P

I hope my second Red Scarf Person like it.

Here it is without further adieu my second Red Scarf Project Scarf as modeled by George. ;^)

It's Noro Silk Garden, not sure of the color number or where I got this yarn. It's purple/green/brown/blue and some fuchsia. I don't think it's enough fuchsia to be outside the bounds of the unisex scarf though. Oh and the pattern is a simple mistake rib scarf. I saw the pattern listed on this post of Cookie's. I'd make this again. Looks neat and is more open than a regular rib scarf. :D

Here are the goodie boxes with the scarves all packed up. I got some satin photo/memory boxes at Micheal's. (pretty cheap 2 for $5 I think it was) I put into each box the scarf, a Valentines day Hershey Chocolate Bar, Conversation Hearts, a Borders gift card and a Pirate Valentine. That's right Pirate Valentines Cards. Arrrrrrrrr! *GRIN*

Clickety Biggety:

So anyway there's the boxes. I have pretty pink and brown Valentines XOXO ribbon to box it all up with too. This has been a really fun project. I'm so glad The Norma threatened my life** unless I knit two scarves for this. ;^)

Alrighty Folks, I gotta go do some stuff. Tune in Tomorrow for late breaking Otter News!!! *Seriously Over the Top Happy Otter Dance*

**Silly things, of course The Norma didn't threaten my life. She just told everyone how cool this project was. :D

The life and times of Hatty The Stranded Colorwork Hat!

So I think I joined another KAL. *L* Still waiting to hear back from the organizers to see if I'm too late or not. If so, then I'm just playing along on my own. ;^)

Either way I am loving stranded knitting so much. Last night I completed my first actual pattern for a stranded project. If you recall I made up my own pattern for my first stranded project a few weeks ago. I love this type of knitting. I'm so excited about my next project already! Although there is a Duckie Hat that needs some lovin' first.

This was the first time, if I'm thinking clearly, that I've used a full out complete pattern from a book and not just an online source. Odd considering how many books I have now. I admit openly that I like the idea of creating something on my own much more than recreating something another designer has made. The cool thing about knitting though is that your personal touch will always be on it no matter what.

So without further adieu here is my "All-Over Two-Color Patterned Watch Cap".

I swear that's what it's really called. I just call it Hatty though. Life's too short to be saying long ass names like that all the time. *L*

Here is George Modeling Hatty:

Pattern: All-Over Two-Color Patterned Watch Cap From the ultra cool book, Hats On! By Charlene Schurch.

Note: There is a flaw in this pattern. One I did not catch until I was done. I've seen the same flaw in another completed "Hatty". Before I start a pattern from a book should I be looking for corrections someplace?

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in the colors Too Teal and Winter White. Less than one skein of each.

Yardage: Just a guess, but I'd say 260 yards or so. I used most of the blue and about a fourth of the white. The one by one ribbing in the blue used a ton of yarn.

Yarn Source: Stash Yarn that I'm sure I purchased at a Micheal's.

Needles: Clover Takumi US size 3 / 3.25mm 16" Circular & DPN's

Gauge: 7.5 per inch

Notes: I started this hat on December 26, 2006 and completed it on January 3, 2007. (I even took a few days off from knitting in there to knit on that scarf and the Duckie Hat. Wheee!) I would knit this again, after I write out the charted pattern correction that is. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be to follow a chart and still knit while I watch TV or do other things.

The ribbing took the longest and was to be honest a little mind numbing. I started the stranded knitting portion of the hat on Dec 31, around 10:00 PM. I knit on it all during a Knit Together on January 1st and took a bit of a break from it on Tuesday the 2nd due to brain deadness. I really love this hat though. I cannot wait to do more knitting like this. :D In fact I have my next project all lined up. Just waiting for the yarn to arrive. I'll be doing Eunny's Anemoi Mittens. It will be done in pale pink and cream or a deep oceany blue and pale beige. Or maybe blue and cream and pink and beige... I couldn't decide so I got all four colors. Plus seeing it in person will be much better. Not like I can't use the extra yarn to make something else or another pair. ;) I'm so excited!

I washed and blocked it this morning so it's still kinda damp in the pictures. My office smells like a wet sheep if you really wanna know. *L*

In a book on Fair Isle Knitting I was reading yesterday it said that the way I hold my yarn is not the most common way. That's funny to me since it's the only way I could ever imagine holding it. I hold both strands in my left hand just like I normally knit. I think doubling knitting first got me used to having tension in both strands. I really don't knit any differently than I would normally knit other than the fact I'm using two strands at once. A lady asked me to teach this to her and seemed kind of offended when I said it was really nothing and to just give it a try. She's been knitting a lot longer than I have and I think she has some of that built in fear. If something looks fun though I just try it. Love this muchly. I think stranded knitting would be great for my Dulaan stuff as it makes a really warm fabric. Plus that crazy k1,p1 ribbing. Super squishy and warm! *L*

And now to the pictures! :D Clickety Biggety!

Hatty Side View: You can see where the pattern has a glitch in the mini white diamonds here. I may Duplicate stitch over them. Likely will. I wish that wasn't like that. *sigh*

Hatty Top View:

Hatty Inside View: You can see how long the ribbing really is here.

Hatty Top View of Insides:

I can't wait to start Anemoi now. :D

But first up I gotta get my Duckie Hat finished and write up the pattern for it. *L*

Wheeeeeeeee!